Over next 24 hours, Sharks hope to answer the big question: With Nabokov gone, who’s minding the nets?

If things go as planned, we’ll know by this time tomorrow night who will be minding the nets for the Sharks next season.

General manager Doug Wilson usually isn’t a big fan of the 24 hours of free agent frenzy that begins tomorrow, sharing the view that July 1 is the day that NHL teams can make their biggest mistakes.

This year, though, Wilson hopes to have Evgeni Nabokov’s replacement under contract by Thursday night.

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“That’s our priority,” he said late tonight. “We’ve spent a lot of time putting players in the order we’d like to pursue. I expect us to be fairly aggressive going after the guys on our list. It’s become very competitive.”

Wilson wouldn’t identify the guys on his list. But he did say that at no point did he seek another team’s permission to talk with, say, a Marty Turco or a Chris Mason or a Dan Ellis (my names, not Wilson’s) whose contracts expire today.

“We’re always looking for the right fit and right structure of a contract,” said Wilson, who repeated that the Sharks are looking to build a goaltending tandem next season with the new guy sharing the role with a goalie already in the system such as Thomas Greiss or Alex Stalock.

Nabokov learned last week that his time with the Sharks was coming to an end after a decade as the team’s No. 1 goalie. The explanation was economic — how less expensive netminders have been the ones backstopping teams to the Stanley Cup finals in recent years, how this year there just happened to be a large number of goalies going into the free agent market.

“We think the supply of goalies and options are fairly extensive and we like to think we’re a place where a goalie would want to play,” Wilson said.

*****With the retirement of Rob Blake, the Sharks are also keeping a close eye on available defensemen.

“Obviously we always create opportunities for our own guys and we’ve got a group of guys who are excited about competing for spots,” Wilson said, referring to Worcester defensemen such as Derek Joslin, Mike Moore and Nick Petrecki. “But you are also looking for veteran contracts that do fit.”

The goalie pool may run deep this year, but Wilson said the same can’t be said for defensemen and forwards.

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While the Sharks will explore what’s out there, Wilson noted that “everything comes at a cost. Under a cap system, if you pay too much money and take too much term, there’s a cost to that, too.”

*****Wilson didn’t sound as if anything was imminent in negotiations with Manny Malhotra (an unrestricted free agent as of tomorrow) or Devin Setoguchi (a restricted free agent whose rights were retained by the Sharks).

“Ongoing discussions, that’s where it sits right now,” Wilson said. “They’re not done until they’re done. We think our discussions have been good and healthy with both, and we’ll see where they will lead.”

*****There’s been much discussion here on Niclas Wallin’s spot in the lineup next season and I asked the GM whether he saw Wallin in his second or third defense pairing.

He framed his answer differently.

“He’s in a stopper role,” Wilson said. “He’s a big body against the other team’s best players.”

The role, he added, is what Wallin, 35, did for many years in Carolina and “with his injury we missed the opportunity to see him do what he did in Carolina during the playoffs. Often players in that role aren’t really appreciated until the games matter the most.”

As at the time Wallin’s contract was announced, comparisons were made to the roles of Brent Sopel, Cory Sarich, Andy Sutton and Rob Scuderi. Each of those players earn at least as much as the $2.5 million Wallin will be paid next season.

*****No official confirmation from the Sharks yet on the Cam Macintyre signing.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

I just can’t see the Sharks not resigning their quickest player when DW wants to improve team quickness this offseason.

Evilducks

Marleau was resigned, easily the fastest guy on the team. Well, I suppose Mitchell might be faster, but you never know with that leg thing. They’re both certainly faster than Seto and Manny.

SanFranciscoKnights

There is absolutely no logic whatsoever to the Wallin signing. He has never earned more than 1.7 mil in a year and he has 71 career points which spans over 10 years. Inexplicable.

Wupuck

Well as a stopper, All I can remember of Wallin were his constant turnovers behind the Sharks net in the Blackhawk series as well as being Andrew Ladds screen, 70ft away in that on that horrible goal Nabby gave up.

jg

well heres to hoping thet “stopper roll” is a 3rd line 2.5 mil 1 year mistake and that we sign a top4 dman and go with greiss and stalock.

Patrick

Does another comment section need to get completely derailed on the Wallin signing? It’s enough. I don’t know anyone on here that thinks $2.5M was the right amount, but that’s the amount. Surely there are more interesting things to talk about on the first day of free agency?

The 4-5 posters who think Wallin sucks, Doug Wilson sucks, our team is going to be way worse next year, etc. etc., we get it. You’ve been making the same points over and over for the past 5 days.

billbam

Based on the below quote from the Sharks website Cam MacIntyre must be signed if they consider him a possible to crack the lineup.

“In addition to the young prospects like Logan Couture and Jamie McGinn who were up during the playoffs, skaters like Benn Ferriero, Brandon Mashinter, Frazer McLaren, Tommy Wingels, Cam MacIntyre and Andrew Desjardins, among others, are looking to crack the lineup full time.”

Zybnek Michalek – YES…Would be great to get him. IMO Turco will be a Shark. I would also think that Manny would be signed. However, it looks like Seto might be a problem.

John

Would rather sign Michalek, Hamhuis or Paul Martin and just go with Greiss/Stalock and then trade for a goalie mid season if both of them falter.

smartycat

A little off topic but I just read that the Sens bought out Cheechoo’s contract. Just curious- what happens if another team signs him? Does the new team have to compensate the Sens? Does Cheech get to pocket the $3.5M from the Sens plus whatever the new team is offering him?

will r.

if Wallin is a “stopper”, then so is a cork. what a laugh. Scuderi, fyi Dougie, was dumped by the Pens after they won the SC, because he wanted too much money.

and then DW says this

“While the Sharks will explore what’s out there, Wilson noted that “everything comes at a cost. Under a cap system, if you pay too much money and take too much term, there’s a cost to that, too.”

yeah, no kidding. and while you didn’t give him too much term, you certainly made it tough to sign Manny earlier because you gave Wallin way too much money

stopper? bwahahahahahahahahhaha

more like 3rd pair sloth

MJ

wallin better play $2.5M worth of hockey this season.

PoeticAppreciation

Wow, alot of ragging on Wallin. I read the article on him from the Sharks Website. I think it could make a difference for him next season being able to live in his own house here in San Jose, with his family, and fully recovered from his injury.

It must have sucked to live in hotel rooms and other players’ homes while his family stayed in Carolina. That’s gotta be a drag on a human.

I hope next season is a great one for him.

The Detector

Hopefully by noon today we’ll find out who the team had to give up to get a goalie and a dman or two

billbam

smartycat…Cheech is an UFA and can sign with any team without compensation to the Sens since they have bought out his contract.

too manny?

seeing rumors that manny will end up in Toronto

billbam

If I were the league I would look into any agreement that is announced right at Noon, since this is the first moment anyone other than the original team can even talk to the FA. Anyone remember when Belfoir signed immediately with the Stars? HHHHMMMM…that was fast hahaha!

heavymtl

Turco is just Nabby light – a big mistake in my opinion. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I’d be disappointed with Turco in net.

too manny?

all of the agents have backdoor channels to people in team’s front offices. they explore parameters of deals and gauge interest from teams in a sneaky, below the radar, violate the cba way, but nobody will be nailed for it because it is done by everyone. jaywalking for GMs

GoeThornton

Time to go shopping.

too manny?

Mezaros traded to Tampa

and Biron signs with Rangers as backup goalie

too manny?

Mezaros trade from Tampa to Philly, I meant

NB Finfan

Very curious who thinks what kind of contracts Nabby and Turco will command on the open market.

Will they match or better their current contracts or do you think the price of GT’s has dropped significantly? Say down to the 3-4m range.

billbam

heavymtl…I disagree about Turco. I was forced to move to TX 3 yrs ago and have been forced to watch Stars hockey and I actually admire Turco’s game. Unlike Nabby he is able to win a game by himself (as he has at the tank many times.) His last couple years with the Stars were poor in part because of Dallas’ very week defense and disagreements with his GT coach about styles.

Put him on a winning team and you will see the old Turco! His puck handling is top notch (unlike Nabby) and would really kick start a fast move out of the D-zone.

That said he maybe be looking for more that the Sharks can afford. However we could win a cup with him.

Left Field

And there is the gun. What?! No signings yet 😉

The Detector

Dadgummit! I was just getting set to stream TSN’s live coverage of the “Free Agent Frenzy” but a window popped up that said it was for Canadians only…wtf!? Does anyone know of any other online options?